Best Cyber Law, Data Privacy and Data Protection Lawyers in Arta

About Cyber Law, Data Privacy and Data Protection Law in Arta, Greece

Cyber law in Arta operates within the wider Greek and European Union legal framework. This field covers how individuals, businesses and public bodies use technology, store and share information, secure networks, and respond to online harms. If you run a business in Arta, operate a website, use CCTV in your shop, process customer or employee data, sell online, or rely on cloud services, you are subject to rules that aim to keep personal data secure and ensure fair digital practices.

The cornerstone is the EU General Data Protection Regulation, which applies directly in Greece and is supplemented by national laws. Greek authorities oversee compliance, investigate breaches, and issue fines. In parallel, cybercrime, electronic communications privacy, and network security are regulated by dedicated Greek laws and regulators. This means a company in Arta must think about both privacy and cybersecurity together, from drafting a privacy notice and cookie banner to preparing an incident response plan.

Arta hosts a diverse mix of small businesses, agrifood producers, hospitality providers, professionals, public services and cultural institutions. All of these may process personal data such as customer lists, booking details, payment information, CCTV footage and employee records. Good data governance is not only a legal obligation but also a way to build trust with customers and partners across Greece and the EU.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer when you are unsure how the law applies to a digital activity or when you face a cyber or privacy incident. Common situations include setting up a website or app and needing a compliant privacy policy and cookie banner, choosing lawful bases for processing, or rolling out loyalty programs and email marketing. If you deploy CCTV on your premises or introduce employee monitoring or time-tracking tools, legal advice helps you balance legitimate interests with privacy rights and meet notice requirements.

Businesses often seek help to draft data processing agreements with vendors, negotiate cloud and SaaS contracts, or assess cross-border data transfers. If your organization is large or processes sensitive data, you may need to decide whether to appoint a Data Protection Officer and how to structure governance. After a suspected data breach, time is critical. A lawyer can help investigate lawfully, preserve evidence, determine notification duties within 72 hours, and communicate with customers and the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.

Individuals may need assistance if they are victims of online fraud or identity theft, if someone posts defamatory content about them, or if a company ignores a request to access or delete their data. Public bodies and schools in Arta may require guidance on children’s data, procurement of IT systems, and records retention. In all cases, early legal input reduces risk and cost.

Local Laws Overview

EU General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR: Applies to any controller or processor in Arta that handles personal data. Key duties include identifying a lawful basis, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, security by design, records of processing, data subject rights, data protection impact assessments for high-risk processing, and breach notification within 72 hours to the Hellenic Data Protection Authority if required.

Law 4624-2019: The main Greek law that supplements GDPR, sets rules for public bodies, establishes certain national derogations, and frames the powers of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.

Law 3471-2006 on electronic communications privacy: Implements the EU ePrivacy rules in Greece. It governs confidentiality of communications, cookie consent, unsolicited marketing via email-SMS-fax, and caller ID-robocalls. In practice, non-essential cookies and online tracking require prior opt-in consent, and marketing messages generally require consent except in limited soft opt-in cases for existing customers, with a clear opt-out in every message.

Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure: Law 4577-2018 implements the EU NIS framework for operators of essential services and digital service providers. Greece is updating its framework to align with NIS2, which expands obligations to more sectors and strengthens governance, risk management and reporting. Law 4961-2022 introduced measures on emerging technologies and cybersecurity requirements in certain contexts. Businesses in Arta that provide essential or important services should monitor guidance from the National Cybersecurity Authority.

Digital governance and e-signatures: Law 4727-2020 integrates EU eIDAS rules on electronic identification and trust services. Advanced and qualified electronic signatures have defined legal effects. Many public services are now accessible via gov.gr, which interacts with privacy and security obligations when you handle citizens’ data.

Cybercrime: The Greek Penal Code and related statutes criminalize unauthorized access, illegal interception, data and system interference, computer-related fraud and forgery, online child exploitation, and distribution of illegal content. The Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division investigates and can provide guidance on preserving digital evidence.

International data transfers: Transfers outside the EEA require an adequacy decision, Standard Contractual Clauses with transfer impact assessments, binding corporate rules, or other valid tools. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework currently offers an adequacy route for transfers to certified US recipients. You should confirm the recipient’s certification status and keep documentation.

Employment and CCTV: Employee data processing must be necessary and proportionate. CCTV is permitted for specific, lawful purposes such as security, with proper signage, limited retention, and camera placement that respects privacy. Audio recording is highly restricted. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority provides practical guidance and has issued fines for non-compliant CCTV and unlawful employee monitoring.

Children’s data: Parental consent is generally required for online services offered directly to children below the nationally set age threshold. In Greece, the threshold is commonly understood to be 15 for information society services. Extra care is needed when processing children’s data in schools, clubs and online platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as personal data under Greek and EU law

Any information that identifies or can identify a natural person is personal data. This includes names, emails, phone numbers, IDs, IP addresses when linked to a person, location data, customer numbers, CCTV images and audio when identifiable, and online identifiers combined with other data. Special categories include health, biometric, genetic, religious and similar sensitive data, which have stricter rules.

Do small businesses in Arta have to comply with GDPR

Yes. GDPR applies regardless of size if you process personal data. Smaller organizations may have fewer formalities, but they still need a lawful basis, transparency, appropriate security and respect for data subject rights. Records of processing and impact assessments depend on the nature and scale of processing, not just headcount.

When do we need a Data Protection Officer

You need a DPO if you are a public authority, if your core activities require regular and systematic monitoring of individuals on a large scale, or if you process special categories of data on a large scale. Even if not mandatory, appointing a DPO or privacy lead can help manage compliance. Document your assessment either way.

What are the rules for cookies and online tracking

Under Law 3471-2006 and GDPR, you must obtain prior opt-in consent for non-essential cookies such as analytics, advertising and social media trackers. Essential cookies needed for the service can be used without consent. Consent must be informed, granular and freely given, with an easy refusal option. Keep consent logs and provide a cookie policy that explains purposes, providers, and retention.

We had a data breach - what should we do

Act quickly. Contain the incident, preserve evidence, and assess the risk to individuals. If there is a likely risk to rights and freedoms, notify the Hellenic Data Protection Authority within 72 hours and inform affected individuals without undue delay if the risk is high. Record the incident, even if not notifiable. Coordinate IT, legal, communications and, if needed, the Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division. Review contracts to ensure your processors assist you.

Can we send marketing emails or SMS without consent

In general you need prior consent. There is a limited soft opt-in for existing customers when you obtained their contact details during a sale of similar products or services, provided you gave a clear opt-out at collection and include an easy opt-out in every message. Cold marketing without consent can lead to complaints and fines under Law 3471-2006 and consumer rules.

Is CCTV allowed in my shop or office in Arta

Yes, for legitimate purposes such as security and asset protection. You must post clear signage, limit camera angles to necessary areas, set short retention periods, restrict access, and avoid monitoring staff in a way that is intrusive or constant unless strictly necessary and proportionate. Audio recording is generally prohibited. Include CCTV details in your privacy notice.

How can we legally transfer data to cloud providers outside the EEA

Use a valid transfer mechanism such as an adequacy decision, Standard Contractual Clauses with a transfer impact assessment, binding corporate rules, or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework where the US recipient is certified. Map data flows, check sub-processors, and apply supplementary measures like encryption where needed. Keep documentation for audits.

How long can we keep customer and employee data

Only as long as necessary for the purpose collected and any legal retention duties. For example, tax-law records have specific minimum retention periods. Set a retention schedule, apply deletion or anonymization, and ensure backups follow the same rules. Explain retention in your privacy notice.

What penalties can apply for non-compliance

The Hellenic Data Protection Authority can issue warnings, orders to stop processing, and administrative fines up to 20 million euros or 4 percent of global annual turnover, whichever is higher, depending on the violation. Additional sanctions can arise under ePrivacy rules, consumer law and sector regulators. Reputational damage and contract losses can be just as costly.

Additional Resources

Hellenic Data Protection Authority - Greece’s independent authority for GDPR supervision, guidance, complaints and enforcement.

Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy - ADAE - Oversees confidentiality of communications and security of networks in the electronic communications sector.

National Cybersecurity Authority - Sets national cybersecurity strategy, supervises NIS obligations, and issues alerts and guidance for essential and important entities.

Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division - Receives cybercrime reports including fraud, hacking, online harassment and identity theft, and provides instructions on preserving digital evidence.

National CSIRT - Computer Security Incident Response Team - Publishes advisories, indicators of compromise and incident response best practices for organizations in Greece.

Arta Bar Association - Local professional body for lawyers who can assist with cyber law, privacy and data protection matters.

Chamber of Arta - Can guide local businesses on compliance programs, training opportunities and referrals to specialists.

Citizen Service Centers - KEP - Local offices that facilitate interactions with public services, electronic identification, and document certification relevant to digital processes.

Next Steps

Identify your situation. If you run a business, list the personal data you collect, the purposes, who you share it with, where it is stored, and how long you keep it. Note any high-risk activities such as large-scale profiling, health data, or CCTV. If you are dealing with an incident, record what happened, when you discovered it, systems affected, data types involved and steps taken.

Stabilize and preserve evidence. For suspected cyber incidents, isolate affected systems, avoid altering logs, and coordinate with IT. Do not pay ransoms without expert and legal advice. Consider contacting the Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division for guidance.

Seek legal advice early. A lawyer can confirm your obligations, draft or update privacy notices, cookie banners and internal policies, assess lawful bases, prepare or review data processing agreements, and build an incident response plan. If a breach might require notification, a lawyer can help you meet the 72-hour deadline and manage communications with the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and affected individuals.

Engage the right partners. Consult your insurer on cyber coverage, involve your IT or a trusted incident response team, and notify critical suppliers or customers if needed. If you rely on processors, ensure they cooperate as required by contract and law.

Implement and iterate. Train staff in Arta on phishing and secure handling, enable multi-factor authentication, maintain asset and data maps, test backups, review access rights, and schedule regular audits. Monitor updates from Greek authorities on NIS2 implementation and evolving guidance on cookies, international transfers and CCTV.

Document everything. Keep clear records of decisions, risk assessments, consents, contracts, training and incidents. Good documentation demonstrates accountability and reduces exposure if regulators inquire or disputes arise.